Profitability of wetland farming: A case study of Eriti wetland in Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the profitability of farming around Eriti wetland in Ogun State. The study was based on primary data collected by personal administration of questionnaire/interview schedule to 80 wetland farmers selected using systematic sampling. The study respondents were asked question that had to do with their socio-economic status such as age, educational background, gender, farm size as well as production costs and returns. Data collected was analyzed through the use of descriptive statistics, budgetary techniques as well as linear programming. The results revealed that an average farmer in Eriti wetland area was a married male (60.3%) aged between 31-40 years (34.2%) with primary education (55.9%). The budgetary report shows that the net wetland income was ₦239.694 with returns on investment of ₦3.63. Furthermore, the shadow price of land, labour and intermediate materials was ₦109,411/ha, ₦164 and ₦ 6.42 respectively implying that each additional unit of this factors put into cultivation will increase farm profit by the associated amount. The study thus concludes that farming around Eriti wetland is profitable and thus recommended that farmers should be encouraged to cultivate fruity vegetables, rice and cassava in other to maximize their profit.